Education Support

Introduction

     There is no doubt that education is an indispensable factor to all round development of a person, society and whole nation as well. The present civilization and development is all the results of education. In one word it is the backbone of all kinds of development. Education enhances human status and leads everyone to better perspective of life. It provides manpower, strengthens national unity and uplifts pupil awareness. It symbolizes a developed and civilized society. The importance of education in producing an industrious, confident, self-dependent and responsible citizen for country can be hardly exaggerated.
     Being the fact that the education is the most important infrastructure to develop the society and nation more than 30 percent people are under the illiteracy line. Ecological Protection Forum Nepal is a non-governmental, nonprofit, registered organization. It established an institution in Kathmandu with the purpose to help in developing the society and nation. Its major goal is providing the education for all poor children who are really back in education. It has provided the following services to the needy people of Dhading district since its establishment.

1. 1Scholarship Program
1.2 Semi Volunteer Teacher Support 
1.3 Semi Volunteer Teacher Training 
1.4  Computer Education Program 

1.1 Scholarship Program in;

        Jaleshwary Lower Secondary School

         Little-Stars Primary School

         Kalika Primary School

         Manarupi Primary School, Bhorle Danda

         Sponsorship collection and distribution for 350 students

         Kumal Project 
         
         Tamang Project 
     
1.2 Semi Volunteer Teacher Support 

      In reality, most of public schools possess insufficient teachers in terms of standard ratio between teacher and students (30-45 students: 1 teacher), that results poor quality of education. In our field survey, we found out some public schools only have one teacher. How this teacher can allocate time and prepare proper teaching material to different levels of students in one day? Some schools don’t have teaching resource as well as students are lack of basic stationary and study material. Through our discussion with District Education Office in Dhading District, and door-to-door-by communication with public school’s management commitment, EPF Nepal initiated this semi-voluntary teacher’s project to solve the urgent needs teachers for schools also provide alternative career development on women’s role.

      On the other hand, despite of the fact that women occupy 50% of population, and count for 50% of productivity, they are stereotyped as a helper at home and field work to support others’ needs, instead of putting their own foot on any major roles. Specially, women in the rural area play a silent and passive role. Many efforts have been made to raise awareness of gender equality and create self-respect among women, but the real opportunities are rare appeared in their life. We would like to motivate the educated women to utilize their knowledge on educating the new generation while they are capable of managing their own family’s life.


      This project is designed to address two issues at one package—supply teachers to public schools, and empower women to have alternative career development.

      We address the specific term in our project “semi voluntary teachers” as half of working time are required and salary are provided to those who are selected as voluntary teachers in our project. Those who are selected and trained to be semi-voluntary teachers might get chance to develop their career in education sector in long-term perspective.

Selection Criteria of Teachers
       • Priority is married and disadvantage (Indigenous groups: Gurung, Tamang, Newar, Magar in villages; Dalits: Damai,                 Kami, Sharki) women
       • Second priority is poor women from various castes
       • Third priority is poor college (female & male) students
       • Minimal education level: SLC (High School Leaving Certification)

1.3 Semi-Volunteer Teacher Training Program (2007 to 2012)

EPF Nepal started Teachers Training Program, Teachers Support Program and Indigenous Girls Support Program from the year 2006 with the collaboration of International Women Education Network (IWEN Canada). Among them teachers Training program ended with the closing ceremony on 28 November 2009. The program was chaired by Mr. Ramesh Prasad Dhamala, the chairman of EPF Nepal. Mr. Dwarika Prasad Amgain, the Educationalist was the chief guest of the program. Head coacher Michelle Bonneau distributed the certificates to the coachers, head teachers of those coachers and other semi volunteer teachers. Mr. Dwarika had presentation on Healthy Culture in School. The closing ceremony lasted till 3:30 PM at EPF Nepal office in Dhading. Other programs like Teachers support program and Indigenous girls Support Programs are continuing in Dhading. The Program was coordinated by Mr. Ravi Bhatta, the coordinator of EPF Nepal.

Semi-Voluntary Teacher’s Project has been through 3-year pilot period. EPF-Nepal initiated this project based on the needs of local situation. Most of public schools in Nepal are either lack of teachers or encounter lower quality of education delivery. In rural area where the governmental resource is inadequate and social resource is deployed in favor of high level of caste groups. Those disadvantage groups’ rights and opportunities to access social service inevitably deprived. In the course of political system changes, democracy is slowly introduced to people of Nepal. Concepts of Human right and gender equality have been brought into villagers through NOGs’ awareness campaigns.

1.4 Computer Education Program 

      Yuan Ze Univeristy of Taiwan, started computer education project from 2008 to 2014 in Nepal. Due to the earthquake, 2015 YZU Computer Camp was cancelled. Yuan Ze University with the computers support of Msi company used to conduct computer training Program in the schools of Nepal. Nepali students and few teachers had enjoyed the learning from this training. Students and teachers who were illeterate in computer had given a chance to participate at the program. The program was very effective because the students and teachers of Nepal had got an opportunity to get computer education, exchange culture and computers for schools use. Yuan Ze Univeristy of Taiwan, started computer education project from 2008 to 2014 in Nepal.

The Computer Training Camp 2008-2014  

2008                  Himalaya Academy School, KTM, donated 10 computers

2009                  Sangkos, Dhading, teachers training, donated 9 laptops

2010                  Neelkantha Campus, Dhading, donated 15 computers

2011                  Neelkantha Higher Secondary Schools, donated 10 computers

2012                  CFO Village, Leadership Camp for 5 schools total 40 students

2013                  CFO Village, donated 15 computers

2014                  Salyantar, donated 15 computers

2015 March        Donated 30 Laptops for 5 Public Schools in Sangkosh VDC

2015 July            Due to the earthquake, 2015 YZU computer camp's was cancelled.